Transcript Slide 1

This project is funded by the
European Union
EU regulatory framework for
electronic communications
- Spectrum and related aspects
Richard Harris
Independent EU telecommunications consultant
ICTtrain workshop
London 3-14 November 2008
Agenda
– The early days
– The fiasco
– The Decision
– The Committee
– Growing support
– The Policy group
– What next?
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The early days
– GSM Directive (87/372/EEC)
– ERMES Directive (90/554/EEC)
– Tetra Directive
– Satellite PCS Decision No
710/97/EC
– UMTS Decision No 128/1999/EC
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The fiasco
• The auctions for 3rd generation
spectrum licences in 2000.
• Distortion of the whole market.
• Diversion of surplus capital.
• Lessons learned:
– Adopt common EU approach.
– Make enough spectrum available.
– Permit spectrum trading.
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The Decision
• DECISION No 676/2002/EC on a regulatory
framework for radio spectrum policy
• The Commission shall be assisted by the
Radio Spectrum Committee
• Commission submits draft measures to the
Radio Spectrum Committee
• Commission issues mandates to the CEPT,
setting out the tasks and the timetable.
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The Committee -1
• Web site of the Radio Spectrum Committee:
http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/policy/radio_spectrum/activities/rsc_work/index_en.htm
• Commission chair, members from MSs
• Information about the Committee’s:
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Meetings schedule
Reports and public documents 2002 to present.
Commission mandates
Annual work programme
• Messages go by e-mail
• Committee papers are downloaded
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The Committee - 2
Now well established and earning respect
Growing volume of work
Clear that its work is needed and was overdue
Many things in hand. For example:
• Digital dividend in the UHF band (470-852 MHz)
• Mobile communication on aircraft
• Government use of spectrum
• More flexible use of GSM spectrum
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Growing support
• 14th Feb 2007 the EP adopted a resolution
“Towards a European policy on the radio
spectrum”.
– 48 recitals
– 36 clauses
• Industry is aware of the magnifying effect of
harmonised spectrum for new applications
and products.
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The Policy Group
The RSPG website: http://rspg.ec.europa.eu/
• Senior government experts from 31
countries, EP, ETSI, EFTA and EC.
• Chooses its own chairman
• Meets two or three times a year
• It is a link between policy making at EU
level and spectrum management at
national level.
• RSPG consults widely and advises the EC.
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What next?
• Spectrum trading and liberalisation
• EC paper (COM)2005/400 on a
market based approach to spectrum
management
• At present spectrum trading is
permitted by EU law but not required
• Some moves have been made in
about 10 EU countries
• The current review goes further. EC
(COM)2007/50 proposes flexibility
for WAPECS.
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Summary
• The Europe-wide and world wide
success of GSM.
• MS initially reluctant to share any
power with the Commission.
• Now it is accepted that EU
coordination and leadership is
necessary.
• The process has taken about 20
years.
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Thank you for your attention
[email protected]
For more information:
See - Europa web-site
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